News from Italy and about Italy

BLOOMING SANREMO 2010

alessandra — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 09:09:00 +0000

According to a tradition, every year in Sanremo, the end of January is reserved for the fragrant floral parade “Corso Fiorito”.
The festival “bloomed” for the first time in 1904 in honor of the Goddess Flora and, since then, it started its annual edition with a brake from 1966 until 1980.
This attractive fusion of colors and scents sees every year over 60 000 visitors, not to mention those who watch it from their homes. Beside the wonderfully decorated coaches, the festival is accompanied by different music bands and folkloristic groups.
The theme for the decoration of coaches changes every year. This year’s topic for the municipalities in competition is “The Great Performers of the Festival“. At the end of the parade, the winner is being chosen. The municipality of Sanremo, as always, is not in competition.
If you’re gonna be somewhere near Sanremo on January 31st, drop by and see the show.

For further info about the city of Sanremo please visit our website www.aboutliguria.com

MICHELANGELO BUONARROTI AN ARCHITECT IN ROME

diletta — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 09:05:29 +0000

A special exhibition, opened on October 6th, 2009 and dedicated to the extraordinary work of Michelangelo Buonarroti as an architect, under the organization of Musei Capitolini in Rome is approaching to its end. For those who haven’t seen it and wanted to do so, the last day is February 7th, 2010. Beside the famous works in Florence, Siena, Bologna, Venice, the one made in Rome is considered to be among the most important.
Michelangelo had lived in Rome between 1505 and 1516, and afterwards from 1534 until his death in 1564, and during this forty-years long period the artist made numerous great projects, some of them realized, the others unfortunately remained on sheets of paper.
The exhibition is divided in 17 sections organized chronologically and it contains 105 works that remained to testify about the extraordinary inventions of Michelangelo.
Thanks to a rich collection of the Casa Buonarroti Foundation, nowadays we can admire and examine the great work of the artist as an architect.
As his mark, left to the city of Rome, we can see the Campidoglio Square, Farnese Palace, St.Peter’s Basilica, Santa Maria degli Angeli, Sforza Chapel, Porta Pia, etc..
All of these projects and many autographical drawings of Michelangelo Buonarroti are available for the visitors, with special guided visits to the monuments in Rome shown at the exhibition, organized during the week ends.

Opening hours:
Tuesday - Sunday from 9:00 to 20:00
Closed on Mondays.

Entrance for the exhibition only:
full price €6
reduced price €4

For those who would like to get some more useful info about events in Rome, please visit the website www.aboutroma.com

OTTO HOFMANN. The poetics of Bauhaus

About Italy — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 09:19:53 +0000

In 2009 the Bauhaus celebrated its 90th anniversary of existence. For this occasion, the Palazzo Ducale of Genoa hosts, from October 2009 until February 14th, 2010, a retrospective exhibition of one of the most important artists from this school: Otto Hofmann.
The exhibition shows us a wide historic path of life of the artist through his work which definently left its mark on the vanguard of the XX century.
Otto Hofmann tells a story of a difficult life, in a very turbulent period which started in the thirties of the XX century, during his stay at the Bauhaus of Dessau. The story continues through years of the Nazi domination and censorship when a lot of his work was confiscated and accused as degenerated art. Then follows the time of the full immersion in the War and the imprisonment in Russia. A precious collection of watercolor paintings shows us the artist’s feelings and state of mind, horrified by the chaos that was spread all over the Europe.
The exhibition includes also the work from the period immediate after the World War, a time not less suffering and characterized by the increasing political diversities.
The time when the artists was moving a lot from the Oriental Germany to the West Berlin, from Paris to Canton Ticino, is represented by a set of drawings and paintings.
The story about Hofmann’s life finishes with his last twenty years spent in Italy, at the Ligurian Riviera, among the splendid landscapes and fascinating nature which symbolize the final calmness and peacefulness after a long period of turbulence.
Beside the exhaustive work of Otto Hofmann, the exhibition is fulfilled with fifty original photographs of some great names from the Bauhaus school ( Florence Henri, Moholy-Nagy, Lucia Moholy, Walter Peterhans, Lux Feininger, etc..).
The exhibition is considered very important because it finally reunites, thanks to various private and public, national and international collections, the rich work of this artist which was lost during the difficult years of the War.

For those who would like to discover some more about the life and story of the Bauhaus, please visit the website www.aboutitaliandesign.info

Address:
Palazzo Ducale, the Dodge’s apartment
Piazza Matteotti 9

Hours:
from October 16th, 2009 until February 14th, 2010
Tuesday - Sunday from 9:00 to 19:00
closed on Mondays

Ticket:
full price €8
reduced price €6
schools €3
on Wednesdays the ticket costs only €3

Discover the new tourist guide About Liguria

alessandra — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 16:37:12 +0000

Web Marketing Team Staff is proud to present its new creation, the brand new website “About Liguria”.

This is a useful tourist guide which has been created in order to provide many interesting and detailed information about everything concerning the Region of Liguria, its towns, its castles, its churches, its traditions and culture, its stunning landscapes made up of sea and mountains.

Ever you ever been in Liguria?

It is a very small region located in the North-West of Italy. This thin strip of land surrounded by mountains and deep blue sea will enchant you at first sight. For your next holiday, you’d better think about it.

This is a land where it is possible to find fun, relax, nature, sport, wellness and excellent food, that is to say all visitors here can find their ideal holiday. That’s why About Liguria offers all the necessary information for planning a perfect stay. In fact, on About Liguria we have selected the most important information relating to history, culture, main sights, cities and sea resorts, natural parks, transportation, useful numbers, itineraries, accommodation and much more.

So, we decided to collect the main historical, artistic and natural features about the municipalities of Lerici, Porto Venere, Portofino, Santa Margherita Ligure, Sanremo, Sarzana, Recco, Camogli and Ventimiglia, obviously not forgetting about the regional provinces: Genoa, Savona, La Spezia and Imperia.

In addition, a special section has been entirely dedicated to the charming “five lands”, that is to say, Cinque Terre, the characteristic, stunning little villages diving into the sea, a landscape like few others: Monterosso, Corniglia, Vernazza, Manarola and Riomaggiore.

So…For further information about culture, traditions, cuisine, beaches and towns in Liguria, visit the brand new and always up-to-date website About Liguria, your tourist guide about Liguria.

FORBIDDEN NOT TO TOUCH. Children in touch with Bruno Munari

About Italy — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 10:08:58 +0000

In the occasion for the famous Milan event Triennale di Milano we have the opportunity to visit the playful exhibition organized especially for the young ones.
MUBA, in cooperation with ABM (Bruno Munari Association) and Edizioni Corraini has combined the impressive work of the artist Bruno Munari dedicated to children and arranged it as a special game concentrated on sensibility, curiosity and interest of youngsters at the age of 2 through 6.
The surroundings, full of colors and different forms, organized to involve, wake up curiosity and enable participation of the little visitors, is an excellent occasion to amuse and connect children from nursery and primary school among them and with the work of Bruno Munari.
Hurry up if you’re interested, there are only few days left! The exhibition lasts until January 24th, 2010.

Opening hours are fixed and the number of visitors is limited.
Tuesday to Friday at 17:00
On Saturday, Sunday and school holidays: 10:30; 12:00; 14:30; 16:00; 17:30
Tickets:
-Children €8
-Adults €5
-Schools and groups €6
Where: Triennale di Milano

For further information about museums and events in Milan please visit our website www.aboutmilan.com

The enchanting Fashion of Pitti Immagine comes back in Florence

diletta — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 10:50:13 +0000

The great fashion-event comes back in the city of Florence. The 77^th edition of Pitti Immagine Uomo and Pitti W_Woman Precollection n°5 come back at Fortezza da Basso in Florence.

This year, we remind you the new special layout designed by the architect Elio di Franco in order to pay homage to the brand Everlast which celebrates its 100^th anniversary, and the debut of a cult contemporary jeanswear brand, Denham from Holland, and other international debuts in the field of fashion.

From 12^th to 15^th January, Pitti Uomo presents a brand new layout: the Main Pavilion in fact has been revolutionized by the designer Patricia Urquiola, who created a sort of urban fashion district with more open stands that promote “dialogue” among the products. In addition, there will be also the Pop Up Stores, areas dedicated to the world of accessorizes, with brands like 19 Andrea’s 47, A B A Brand Apart, Amaort, Amazonlife, etc.

The Lyceum will host the traditional section New Beat(s) which will present young and up-and-coming brands, and Welcome to my house, a selection of young, but already known names that focus their research and efforts on street culture.

And now, let’s take a look at the numbers of the 77^th edition: 742 firms, 918 brands of which 300 are from abroad. The cult fashion-event will be set on 59,000 square meters. You fill find the several sections shown along a path made up of 14 stages: Pitti Uomo, Affinità Elettive, Fashion At Work, Pop Up Stores_ Sport & Sport, Uppercasual_ Ynformal, Urban Panorama, Welcome To My House_ Fashion / Design, Futuro Maschile, Touch!, l’Altro Uomo, New Beat(s).

And what about Pitti W_Woman n° 5? In addition, the fifth edition of Pitti W_Woman Precollection will take place from 12^th to 15^th January 2010 in Florence, the fair-event dedicated to women’s apparel. The Dogana (Via Valfonda) in fact will showcase the preview showings of the 2010-2011 fall/winter collections by about 70 international brands.

After last season’s success, at this edition once again we find the section called “Vintage for Pitti W”, which gathers some of the best in the vintage trade who will be showing their vintage couture, accessory, jewellery and signature scarf collections.

The 5^th edition also brings back the selection called “Fragranze” with an outstanding array of scent and selective perfume brands, and Designer Collection, a selection of brands which represent at best women’s elegance.

The names at this edition include: 5+1_Annapurna, Alberto Fasciani, Amaort Japan, Azzurra Gronchi, BHcrafts, BP Studio, Bun, Chiara Zanetti.

So, in January you will be totally busy with the world of fashion! The city of Florence awaits you all with its wonderful historical buildings, palaces and…shops.

For further information about museums, monuments and events in Florence, please visit our website www.aboutflorence.com.

Still a few days for Francesca Woodman’s Photography in Siena

viviana — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 10:21:03 +0000

You will have still a few days to visit Francesca Woodman’s exhibition at Sms Contemporanea, the contemporary art center of Santa Maria della Scala Museum in Siena.

In fact, the exhibition, which is under way since last September, will end on 10^th January 2010, and until then visitors will have the chance to marvel at 114 pictures, among which there are some unpublished pieces. So, if you intend to give a look at it in these days, we would like to give you a short introduction to the artist.

She was born in 1958, daughter of the artists Betty and George Woodman, and she began to work in the field of photography when she was just 13 years old, when she created her first self-portrait. Later on, the artist kept on taking pictures of herself in domestic settings, in the nature, alone or with friends, during actions and planned performances. Francesca committed suicide in January 1981, at the age of just 22 years old.

The artist’s creations focus on the relation between her body, object and subject of her self-portraits, and her look. She doesn’t give an idealized vision of herself, but on the contrary, her own image is always inserted into the universe, as if she was part of it.

Along the exhibition itinerary, accompanied by a catalogue edited by Silvana Editoriale with texts created by Isabel Tejeda, Marco Pierini, Rossella Caruso and Lorenzo Fusi, it will be possible also to watch some short videos made by the artist.

For further information about museums, exhibitions and events in Siena, please visit our website www.aboutsiena.com

Epiphany 2010 in Italy…Events and Celebrations

niccolo — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 11:44:35 +0000

The famous old lady called Befana and beloved by all Italian children is coming to Italy!

With her old tatty shoes, this funny and lovely old lady has always made children, teens and adults very happy, bringing sweets, candies and chocolates in her multicolored socks!

This year, you will have the chance to see the Befana and to celebrate her in several Italian cities and villages, which want to go on with traditions.

For instance, in Rome there will be the 25^th edition of the beloved event “Viva la Befana” (“Long Live the Befana”), the traditional historic and folkloristic costumed parade which will bring to the capital many musical bands, folkloristic groups, in a historical commemoration with hundreds people who will parade following the Wise Men and the Befana along Via della Conciliazione.

In addition, in Borghetto Santo Spirito, a little village in the province of Savona (Region of Liguria), there will be a really funny event: the election of “Miss Befana 2010”, a contest where the winner will be the nicest and funniest Befana. An amusing catwalk with strange and fun Befanas who will entertain people in Piazza Madonna della Guardia from 3.00 pm on. And for the children, there will be many games, music and candies.

In Milan there are as well many appointments dedicated to Befana: in fact, on Wednesday 6^th January from 2.30 pm there will be La Befana arriva al Barrio’s, a party full of games, music, shows and fun. Baby dance, creative workshops, balloons and the arrival of Befana with many sweets and candies. At 3.30 pm the Teatro dell’Erica presents Da dove viene la Befana?.(Where does Befana come from?).

And for an alternative Befana, on Wednesday 6^th January from 2.30 to 3.00 pm, the Befana will immerse into the Gardaland Sea Life Aquarium with a black hat, a broom and fins.

In addition, in Urbania (in the province of Pesaro Urbino) from 2^nd to 6^th January the Festa Nazionale della Befana 2010 is scheduled (The Befana National Celebration 2010), with many appointments dedicated to the children and side events. Markets with sweets and candies, workshops, music and taste.

So, these and many more events in Italy to celebrate the Epiphany with the funny and lively old lady, who will bring sweets and fun to everyone!

Celebrate this New Year’s Eve in Italy!

diletta — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 14:48:52 +0000

Where are you gonna spend this New Year’s Eve?

In the Belpaese, you will be spoilt for choice! We would like to remind all our visitors the best events and parties organized in the most beautiful Italian cities, where you will find great celebrations, fireworks, music at full volume, dances and delicious wine and food.

The cosmopolitan city of Turin, in the region of Piedmont, in 2010 will be elected “European Capital of Youth”. In order to show such a merit, the young city of Turin for the New Year’s Eve 2010 organizes a special evening with loud music, a concert which will take place in Piazza Vittorio Veneto from 9.30 pm, an event dedicated to people under 35! The absolute protagonists of the night will be the famous English group Groove Armada and the American group Juliette Lewis and New Romantics, followed by many other artists until midnight, when it will be time for spectacular fireworks.

In Milan on the other hand, in Piazza Stuparich from 10.00 pm to 2.00 am there will be the Galà at Palalido: the event will start with the concert of Nora De Stefani and after, the famous italian singer Fausto Leali with his orchestra.

In the charming Venice, we underline the fabulous and romantic New Year’s Eve celebration called “Love”, which is characterized by a general kiss at midnight and also by much music in the streets and many fireworks.

In the wonderful city of Florence there will be many famous Italian artists in concert, such as Lucio Dalla, Irene Grandi and the group Negrita, which will exhibit between the Basilica di Santa Maria Novella and Piazza della Stazione.

In Siena, it could be a good idea to spend the New Year’s Eve in the streets and squares of the city, among the enlightened little streets which make Siena even more beautiful; otherwise, it could be very nice to spend the night in an agriturismo, to taste typical food and wine. In the famous square Piazza del Campo there will be a great party for everyone, with music and images screenings, between innovation and tradition, music and art,

Otherwise…we could go to Rome for the New Year’s Eve 2010! And why not, near the Roman Coliseum, with much good music and great Italian guests such as the singer Antonello Venditti and the group Zero Assoluto, with a free concert. Much entertainment and fun waiting the end of the year in company with great singers of Italian music.

So guys…you’ll find fun and entertainment of any kind here in Italy…choose your Italian city! Squares, Clubs and discos, concerts with much music at full volume, spectacular fireworks…a perfect New Year’s Eve celebration!

From Milan, to Tuscany, Liguria, Rome and Sicily…Spend the New Year’s Eve 2010 in Italy!

Happy New Year to Everyone from About Italy Staff !!!

Love - A Special New Year’s Eve in Venice

oriana — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 15:45:45 +0000

What about celebrating this New Year’s Eve in Venice?

Once again, the fabulous and charming floating city awaits you all at the romantic appointment dedicated to lovers, and why not, to whoever is looking for his/her soul mate!

In fact, on December 31^st 2009, “Love” comes back in Venice, the New Year’s Eve celebration which will take place in the famous squares Piazza San Marco and Piazza Ferretto, during a night which will warm up your hearts.

As usual, the event schedules a big kiss in unison which will bring joy, peace and love, a cute gesture to get the new year started! Such an event will draw the whole world attention, an unforgettable night in the magical city on the water: Venice, with its gondolas and its characteristic canals and several bridges.

Piazza Ferretto this year schedules a program dedicated to young people: ska music, dj-sets and cabaret shows to entertain with fun and laughs, and also light effects to make a perfect frame to the city.

The very famous and enchanting Piazza San Marco on the other hand, will organize a magnificent show thanks to a tower which will bring to life a show full of music and lights on the several ancient buildings of the square!

And at Midnight …in order to celebrate the night of St. Sylvester in a fabulous way …finally the great general Kiss! With wonderful fireworks: a real emotion.

So…for the moment I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!

For further information about other events in Venice, please visit www.aboutvenice.org